open-source definition of open-source in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

open source

Refers to software that is distributed with its source code so that end user organizations and vendors can modify it for their own purposes. Most open source licenses allow the software to be redistributed without restriction under the same terms of the license. For the complete, official definition of open source, visit www.opensource.org/docs/osd. For a list of approved open source licenses, visit www.opensource.org/licenses.

There are thousands of open source programs, and although they are used on most platforms, they are particularly common in the Unix world. Major examples are the Linux operating system, Apache Web server and JBoss application server. See Linux, Apache and JBoss.

Free and Paid
A great amount of open source software is available at no charge, and many open source projects are developed by a community of volunteers. However, there are many commercial vendors that enhance open source software and charge a fee, the most notable example being a distribution of Linux (see Linux distribution).

Free and Open Source
In the late 1990s, open source software was derived from "free software," meaning free of restrictions and why the phrase "free and open source software" is often used. Whereas the "free software" movement promotes the user's freedom as an ethical issue, the philosophy of open source focuses on the practical benefits when users cooperate with each other. Nearly all open source software is free software, but there are occasional exceptions because the definition of free software is more strict (see free software).

Peer Review
Open source proponents claim that because the source code is continuously reviewed by new programmers, it eventually produces a more bug-free product. In addition, the wide variety of contributors provides enhancements and refinements that would take much longer with proprietary software or never be added.

Vendors of proprietary software counter by saying that "too many cooks spoil the broth!" They maintain that having complete control over software ultimately results in better products. Clearly there is good and bad software from both camps, but there is empirical evidence that open source has advantages. "Software Industry vs. Software Society: Who Wins in 2020?" is a provocative article about the subject by Michael Tiemann, president of the Open Source Initiative (www.computerlanguage.com/2020.pdf).

Primary Advantages of Open Source
The one advantage most people tout is free, and without a doubt, many organizations save money. Millions of instances of open source software are in use, most notably for Web servers. However, a company has to train or hire inhouse talent to support the software or rely on the community at large for help. Because of the support issue, quite often, companies use both free and paid versions.

A second major advantage is flexibility. Users of open source software can modify the programs to fit their needs, and many companies use open source for this reason alone.

Another advantage of open source is the ability to fast track a project. Since there is no contract to sign, IT departments can begin using the software without waiting for contractual negotiations to be completed.

Lastly, as long as there is one remaining, devoted contributor, the software will continue to be enhanced. In the world of proprietary, commercial software, a useful program that users may truly love is often abandoned if it does not generate sufficient profit compared to other products. For more information, visit www.opensource.org and www.sourceforge.net. See free software, Shared Source and open source hardware.

open source

a. intellectual property, esp computer source code, that is made freely available to the general public by its creators

b. (as modifier): open source software

(philosophy, legal)

open source - A method and philosophy for software licensing and distribution designed to encourage use and improvement of software written by volunteers by ensuring that anyone can copy the source code and modify it freely.

The term "open source" is now more widely used than the earlier term "free software" (promoted by the Free Software Foundation) but has broadly the same meaning - free of distribution restrictions, not necessarily free of charge.

There are various open source licenses available. Programmers can choose an appropriate license to use when distributing their programs.

The Open Source Initiative promotes the Open Source Definition.

The Cathedral and the Bazaar. was a seminal paper describing the open source phenomenon.

Open Sources - O'Reilly book with full text online.

Articles from ZDNet.

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No references found			Byline: MARK O'NEILL OPEN-SOURCE software started out as the domain of geeks and academics only. TECH NOTES - Not just for geeks and academics by The Journal (Newcastle, England) One of the most prominent cultures of open source is from the computer software industry, and this article focuses on open-source software in general. Defining open source systems by Database and Network Journal com/research/379dcc/20082009_annual_r) has announced the addition of the "2008-2009 Annual Report on China's Open-Source Software Market" report to their offering. Research and Markets: 2008-2009 Annual Report on China's Open-Source ... by Business Wire			open-flow test open-flow well open-frame girder open-fuse cutout open-graded aggregate open-grain open-grained open-heart surgery Open-Hearth Furnace open-hearth process Open-Hearth Production open-hole completion open-link fuse Open-Loop Control System open-newel stair open-packed structure open-phase protection open-phase relay open-pit mining open-pit quarry open-plan educational building open-plan office open-riser stair open-side planer open-side tool block open-source open-space index open-space structure open-stope method open-string stair open-system architecture open-timber floor open-timbered open-timbered roof open-top agitating truck open-top mixer open-web girder open-web joist open-web steel joist open-well stair open-window unit open-wire carrier system open-wire circuit open-wire feeder open-wire loop open-wire transmission line open/closed principle OpenAir OpenAL Openbill OpenBSD			open-phase relay Open-pit mine Open-pit mining Open-pit mining open-pit quarry open-plan Open-plan classroom open-plan educational building Open-plan office Open-plan office Open-plan office Open-plan office Open-Plus-Closed-Loop Open-Point Expanding open-pollinated Open-reel open-riser stair open-set speech recognition Open-Shell Coupled-Cluster Method Open-Shell Coupled-Cluster with Single and Double Excitations Open-Shell Perturbation Theory Open-Shell Restricted Self-Consistent Field Open-Shell Restricted-Hartree-Fock open-shop open-shop open-shop Open-Short-Load Open-Short-Load-Thru open-side planer open-side tool block open-source Open-source (software) Open-Source Bloomberg Box Open-Source Character Recognition Open-source culture Open-source intelligence Open-source intelligence Open-Source Knowledge Management Open-source license Open-Source Linux-Based VPN Open-source movement Open-Source Operating System Open-Source Project for a Network Data Access Protocol Open-source search engine Open-source search engine Open-source search engine Open-source search engines Open-source search engines Open-source search engines Open-source software Open-Source Speech Recognition Initiative Open-sourcing open-space index open-space structure open-stope method open-string stair open-system architecture Open-systems thermodynamics (biology) open-timber floor Open-timber roof

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